Growing Up with a Parent who has Parkinson’s

Growing Up with a Parent who has Parkinson’s

Kelsey Phinney Talks to Jacie and Matthew
about Growing Up with a Parent Who has Parkinson’s

Life is short. I’m not going to let Parkinson’s take anything away from me.

– Matthew Ater

What is it really like to grow up with a parent who has Parkinson’s?

Well, just like with everything else about Parkinson’s, it depends.

That’s why we wanted to hear from those who’ve done it. In this podcast, Kelsey Phinney talks to Jacie and Matthew about their experiences.

Matthew was six years old when his mom was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD). Jacie was 17. While their experiences have been quite different, and they have taken on very different roles because of the age they were when their parents were diagnosed, they also share some common experiences that we hope will be helpful to you.

At the end of the podcast, they also offer advice to others out there who are traveling a similar path. Matthew shares the importance of having a positive attitude and being an emotional support system for his mom. Jacie talks about how difficult but also how valuable this experience has been for her, and how she has taken what she’s learned over the years and applied it to be more happy and successful in her own life.

They are both so open and honest, and we hope that what they’ve shared will make you feel less alone.

Melani Dizon

That’s great, Lorraine. We are getting such great feedback on the program and are getting requests every day to bring it to more and more places. We look forward to hearing about the program you do at the elementary school.